Viscometer



E. H. PAYNE Sept. 7, 1937.

VI SCOMETER Filed Dec. 31, 1955 INVENTOR E/merH. Payne BMSM K31 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 7 1937 Q VHSCOMETER Elmer H. Payne, Wood River, 111., assignor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Indiana Application December 31, 1935, Serial No. 56,969

4 Claims. ((31. 265-11) This invention relates to viscometers and, in tional view of a Saybolt viscometer showing a particular, to improvements in viscometer tubes] preferred embodiment of the invention. of the type used in the Saybolt instrument, in Referring to the drawing astandard oil tube which the upper end of the tube extends into a I is provided at its lower end with a casting ll cup forming an overflow channel and thus accuwhich extends through the bottom of a constant 5 rately determining the height of liquid in the temperature bath l2 and is secured thereto by tube. nut l3. Casting II is provided with a, large bore In' making viscosity determinations by the M and a smaller threaded bore [5 into which oflicial A. S. T. Mvsaybolt universal and/or is screwed a Saybolt universal or Saybolt furol Saybolt furol viscometers, the viscometer tube tip I 6. The large o i Casting l l s plu d 10 is filled until the oil overflows into the overflow by means of cork i1. cup and floods the end of the tube, and the oil The upper portion of oil tube It) terminates in brought to the desired temperature in a constant an overflow rim l8 and is surrounded by an overtemperature bath. After the temperature of the flow cup l9 the bottom of which is slightly below oil in the oil tube has been constant for one the ove flow m' h t u h formed y the 15 minute at the desired temperature the surplus side of oil tube I0 extending above the bottom oil from the overflow cup and channel surroundof the overflow cup IS, the bottom of the overing the end of the tube is removed by means of flow cup l9 a the Well of the Overflow D a pipette and/or suction line. In withdrawing 9 s te y 20 the excess oil from the overflow cup great care he overflow C p I9 is p v t a drain 2 must be exercised to avoid touching the rim of tube 29 which extends through bat I! o a Point the viscometer tube while removing the excess jus' above the bottom thereof. The lower end of oil from the overflow cup. This precaution is drain tube 2| terminates in fitting 22 which exnecessary for it has been determined that large e ds th u the bOttOm constant p 25 discrepancies occur in the viscosity determinaure bath l2 and s sec ed t o y ea s o tions when the rim of the tube is touched while nut 23' or other suita e meanshe pr je t n removing the excess oil from the overflow cup end of fitting 22 y be plugged by m a o because the meniscus of oil is disturbed thereby cork If desired the drain tube 2| y be and the oil level is lowered. Due to the relatively ex e d through the bottom of the t I2 and small size of the overflow cup it is difiicult for Closed by a. valved means Such as a p eeek- 30 the operator to avoid touching the overflow rim The entire viscometer tube and the drain tube with the pipette or suction tube. are surrounded by a constant temperature bath It is an object of this invention to provide 5 Z maintained at the desired temperature by suitmeans for removing excess oil from the overflow able thermostatic control means.

cup of Saybolt universal and/or Saybolt furol n p r n corks it and 24 are inserted in 35 type viscometers which removes the danger f their respective fittings and the oil tube I0 filled touching the overflow rim of the viscometer tube With the O to e tested unt l e same overflows while withdrawing excess oil from the overflow the overflow rim i3 and fills y After cup. the oil in the tube has reached the desired con- It is another object of this invention to prostent temperature the r 4 is m ved from 40 vide a more rapid and eificient means of drainfitting 23 d the y 20 ed of ing the overflow cup of Saybolt universal and/or The instr m n is now r dy f r the vi s y Saybolt furol type viscometers. determination.

A further object of this invention is to provide Through t e p die Of y v t o the a rapid and efiicient means of draining the over-' xc ss oil is r m ved fr m h ll ry n a 45 flow cup of Saybolt and/or Saybolt furol type rapid manner, and errors due to the overflow rim viscometers without the necessity ofinserting a being touched by the pipette as is now being pipette or suction tube in the overflow cup and used, are eliminated, thereby resulting in more frequently damaging the rim of the tube. accurate and consistent viscosity determinations.

other objects and advantages of this inven- Invthe preferred embodiment of my inv n I 50 tion will become apparent from the following have shown the drain tube extending through description read in conjunction with the accomthe constant temperature bath so that the drain panying drawing} tube will be maintained at the temperature of The figure in the accompanying drawing, which the bath to facilitate the drainage of viscous oils i forms a part of the specificatiomis a vertical secand asphalts. However, the drain tube may be the constant temperature bath without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Although I have described my invention in connection with Saybolt universal and/or Saybolt furol type viscometers, my invention is not limited thereto but may be exercised in connection with other viscometers requiring drainage from overflow cups. Further, while I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention in detail, changes in structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not intend to be limited in the scope of the invention except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A viscometer comprising a viscometer tube, said viscometer tube being provided at its upper end with an overflow cup, said overflow cup having a drain tube extending downwardly from the bottom thereof and a constant temperature bath, said bath enclosing and surrounding said viscometer tube and said drain tube.

2. In a viscometer comprising a viscometer tube for receiving liquid to be tested, an overflow cup at the upper portion of said viscometer tube for receiving excess liquid from said viscometer tube and means for maintaining the oil in said viscometer tube at a constant temperature, the improvement which comprises providing said overflow cup with a drain tube, said drain tube extending downwardly from the bottom of said overflow cup and completely enclosed by said constant temperature means.

3. In a Saybolt viscometer comprising an oil tube for receiving oil to be tested, a small bore tip secured to the lower end of said oil tube, an overflow cup surrounding the upper portion of the oil tube and extending slightly below the upper edge of said oil tube, and a channel formed by the side of said oil tubeextending above the bottom of said overflowcup and the wall of said overflow cup for receiving excess oil 'end with an overflow cup, a constant temperature bath enclosing and surrounding the viscometer tube and a. major portion of the overflow cup and being provided with a recessed well in the bottom thereof, said overflow cup having a drain tube extending downwardly from the bottom thereof and communicating with the recessed well in the bottom of the constant temperature bath whereby the drain tube is maintained at a uniform temperature throughout its entire length.

ELIVIER H. PAYNE. 

